March 15, 2008

US Department of Defense Uses Acupuncture for Pain Relief

The US Department of Defense has forty licensed acupuncturists providing treatment and training throughout the military.

A recent article published by the Air Force describes patient accounts of their impressions and successes. The acupuncture is a stylistic variant of ear acupuncture, militaristically named "battlefield acupuncture," that uses gold studs inserted into the ears.

Several interesting quotes -

"In the beginning, many people were skeptical, but after seeing it demonstrated on patients and the benefits achieved -- especially in the area of pain -- the majority of physicians embraced it and learned how to use it in their practice as an adjunctive therapy"

and

"I don't know how it works and I don't really care as long it keeps working."